J  K 


UC-NRLF 


GIFT  OF 


bt 


(Emnntmuufctlth  af 


SUPPLEMENT 


LAWS  BELATING  TO  ELECTIONS, 


CONTAINING 


LAWS  ENACTED  BY  THE  GENERAL  COURT  DURING  THE 
SESSION  OF  1909, 


PREPARED  BY  THE 

SECRETARY    OF    THE    COMMONWEALTH. 


BOSTON: 

WEIGHT  &  POTTER  PRINTING  CO.,  STATE  PRINTERS, 

18  POST  OFFICE  SQUARE. 

1909. 


(Enmntntttuealtlj  nf  UteaarljuafttB.  _aws., 


SUPPLEMENT 


LAWS  RELATING  TO  ELECTIONS, 


CONTAINING 


LAWS  ENACTED  BY  THE  GENERAL  COURT  DURING  THE 
SESSION  OF  1909, 


PREPARED  BY  THE 

SECRETARY    OF    THE    COMMONWEALTH. 


BOSTON: 

WRIGHT  &  POTTER  PRINTING  CO.,  STATE  PRINTERS, 

18  POST  OFFICE  SQUARE. 

1909. 


The  copies  of  this  pamphlet  which  are  furnished  to 
city,  town  and  other  officers  are  for  their  official  use, 
and  should  be  carefully  preserved  by  them  and  trans- 
mitted to  their  successors  in  office  so  long  as  the  laws 
contained  in  the  pamphlet  remain  in  force. 


ACTS   OF  1909. 


CHAPTER  48. 

AN   ACT   TO  AUTHORIZE   THE   ELECTION   OF   COMMISSIONERS 
OF   PUBLIC    WORKS    IN    THE    TOWN   OF    HUDSON. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  Upon  the  acceptance  of  this  act  as  provided  nc  works 
for  hereinafter  the  town  of  Hudson  shall,  at  a  legal  meet-  J^^jf^^ 
ing  called  for  the  purpose  or  at  an  annual  town  meeting, 
elect  by  official  ballot  three  persons  who  shall  serve  and 
be  known  as  commissioners  of  public  works,  and  who  shall 
hold  office,  one  until  the  expiration  of  three  years,  one 
until  the  expiration  of  two  years  and  one  until  the  expira- 
tion of  one  year  from  the  annual  town  meeting  at  which 
they  are  elected,  or  which  follows  the  special  meeting  at 
which  they  are  elected.  Thereafter  one  such  commissioner 
shall  be  elected  annually  at  the  annual  town  meeting,  to 
serve  for  the  term  of  three  years  therefrom,  or  until  his 
successor  is  elected  and  qualified.  Any  vacancy  occurring  vacancy, 
in  said  board  may  be  filled  for  the  un'expired  term  by 
said  town  at  any  legal  meeting. 

SECTION  2.     Upon  the  election  of  said  commissioners  powers  and 
of  public  works,  the  boards  of  water  commissioners,  sewer  duties>  etc- 
commissioners  and  the  municipal  electric  light  board  shall 
be  abolished,  and  thereupon  all  the  powers,  rights,  duties 
and  liabilities  of  the  boards  of  water  commissioners,  sewer 
commissioners  and  of  the  municipal  electric  light  board,  in 
said  town  shall  be  conferred  and  imposed  upon  the  com- 
missioners of  public  works  created  by  this  act.     ~No  con-  certain  con- 
tracts or  liabilities,  existing  at  the  time  of  the  said  election,  notcaffeected, 
shall  be  affected  hereby,  but  the  board  hereby  created  shall  etc* 
be  in  all  respects,   and  for  all  purposes  whatsoever,   the 
lawful  successor  of  the  water  commissioners,  sewer  com- 
missioners, municipal  electric  light  board,  and  also  of  the 


257150 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  48. 


Powers  and 
duties,  etc. 


Board  of  sur- 
vey, powers 
and  duties. 


Board  of  over- 
seers of  the 
poor  abolished, 
etc. 


Auditor,  elec- 
tion, term, 
etc. 


Collection  of 
water  rates, 
electric  light 
and  power 
rates. 


Question  of 
acceptance  to 
be  submitted 
to  voters. 


selectmen  in  all  matters  touching  the  care  and  maintenance 
of  highways,  bridges,  drains  and  sidewalks. 

SECTION  3.  Said  commissioners  in  matters  concerning 
the  care  and  maintenance  of  highways,  bridges,  drains  and 
sidewalks  shall  exclusively  have  the  powers  and  be  subject 
to  the  duties,  liabilities  and  penalties  of  selectmen,  which 
said  powers,  duties,  liabilities  and  penalties  shall  be  trans- 
ferred from  said  selectmen  to  said  commissioners  of  public 
works,  upon  the  election  thereof. 

SECTION  4.  Upon  the  election  of  the  said  board  of 
public  works,  all  the  powers,  rights,  duties  and  liabilities 
of  the  selectmen  in  said  town  now  existing  or  hereafter 
created  by  law,  relating  to  the  laying  out  and  discontinu- 
ance of  highways,  town  ways,  bridges  and  sidewalks,  guide 
posts,  monuments  at  the  termini  and  angles  of  roads, 
public  squares,  playgrounds,  shade  trees,  sewers,  drains, 
assessments  of  damages  and  betterments,  gas  pipes,  con- 
duits, poles,  wires,  street  railways,  the  granting  of  loca- 
tions, rights  or  licenses  for  structures  upon,  under  or 
over  highways  or  other  ways,  shall  be  exercised,  enjoyed, 
performed  and  incurred  by  a  board  consisting  of  the  select- 
men and  the  commissioners  of  public  works  created  by 
this  act,  sitting  jointly  as  a  board  of  survey. 

SECTION  5.  Upon  the  acceptance  of  this  act  by  said 
town  the  board  of  overseers  of  the  poor  shall  be  abolished, 
and  all  the  powers,  rights,  duties  and  liabilities  of  said 
board  shall  be  transferred  to  the  selectmen. 

SECTION  6.  After  the  acceptance  of  this  act,  the  said 
town  shall,  at  the  same  meeting  at  which  it  elects  the 
aforesaid  commissioners  of  public  works,  elect  by  official 
ballot  a  single  auditor  for  the  term  of  one  year,  and  there- 
upon the  board  of  auditors  of  said  town  shall  be  abolished, 
and  all  the  rights,  duties  and  liabilities  of  said  board  of 
auditors  shall  be  conferred  and  imposed  upon  said  auditor. 

SECTION  Y.  After  the  acceptance  of  this  act  and  upon 
the  election  of  said  commissioners  of  public  works,  all 
water  rates  and  electric  light  and  power  rates  assessed  by 
said  commissioners  of  public  works  shall  be  collected  by 
the  collector  of  taxes. 

SECTION  8.  This  act,  except  as  provided  in  section  nine, 
shall  take  effect  upon  its  acceptance  by  a  majority  vote 
of  the  voters  of  the  town  of  Hudson  present  and  voting 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAPS.  68,  69.  £ 

thereon  at  a  legal  town  meeting  called  for  the  purpose 
within  one  year  after  its  passage,  but  the  number  of  meet- 
ings so  called  shall  not  exceed  three. 

SECTION  9.     So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  its  sub-  when  to  take 
mission  as  aforesaid  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  February  10,  1909. 


CHAPTER  68. 

AN   ACT   RELATIVE    TO    THE   ELECTION"    OF    THE    TREASURER 
OF    THE    CITY    OF    SPRINGFIELD. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  At  the  annual  municipal  election  in  the  Treasurer  of 
city  of  Springfield  held  next  after  this  act  takes  effect, 
and  every  second  year  thereafter,  the  treasurer  of  said 
city  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  city 
voting  in  their  respective  precincts.  He  shall  be  elected 
by  ballot,  and  shall  hold  his  office  for  two  years  from  the 
first  Monday  in  January  following  his  election,  and  until 
his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

SECTION  2.     So  much  of  the  charter  of  said  city  and  Repeal, 
of  the  amendments  thereto  as  is  inconsistent  herewith  is 
hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  3.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  accept-  when  to  take 
ance  by  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  the  city  of  e 
Springfield,  present   and  voting  in  their  respective  pre- 
cincts, at  the  next  municipal  election  following  the  pas- 
sage of  this  act.  Approved  February  17,  1909. 


CHAPTER  69. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  THE  TERM  OF  OFFICE  OF  THE  MAYOR 
OF  THE  CITY  OF  SPRINGFIELD. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  folloivs: 

SECTION  1.     At  the  annual  municipal  election  in  the  Mayor  of 
city  of  Springfield  held  next  after  this  act  takes  effect,  and  eiectionf  term, 
every  second  year  thereafter,  the  mayor  of  said  city  shall  etc' 
be  elected  by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  city  voting  in  their 
respective  precincts.     He  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  and 
shall  hold  his  office  for  two  years  from  the  first  Monday 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  100. 


Repeal. 


When  to  take 
effect. 


Sinking  fund 
commissioners 
of  Whitman, 
election,  term, 
etc. 


Quorum. 


Vacancy. 


Repeal. 


in  January  following  his  election,  and  until  his  successor 
is  elected  and  qualified. 

SECTION  2.  So  much  of  the  charter  of  said  city  and  of 
the  amendments  thereto  as  is  inconsistent  herewith  is 
hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  accept- 
ance by  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  the  city  of 
Springfield,  present  and  voting  in  their  respective  pre- 
cincts, at  the  next  municipal  election  following  the  passage 
of  this  act.  Approved  February  11 ,  1909. 


CHAPTER  100. 
AlST  ACT  TO  AUTHORIZE  THE  TOWN  OF  WHITMAN  TO  CHOOSE 

A   BOARD   OF    SINKING   FUND   COMMISSIONERS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  The  town  of  Whitman  is  hereby  authorized 
to  choose  a  board  of  commissioners  to  have  charge  of  its 
present  water  sinking  fund  and  such  other  sinking  funds  as 
the  said  town  may  hereafter  create.  Said  town  at  its  an- 
nual town  meeting  shall  elect  by  ballot  three  persons  to  hold 
office,  one  until  the  expiration  of  three  years,  one  until 
the  expiration  of  two  years  and  one  until  the  expiration 
of  one  year  from  the  next  succeeding  annual  town  meeting, 
to  constitute  a  board  of  commissioners  to  have  charge  of 
such  sinking  funds,  and  at  each  annual  town  meeting  there- 
after one  such  commissioner  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  for 
the  term  of  three  years.  The  said  board  shall  have  the 
powers  and  duties  specified  in  chapter  one  hundred  and 
fifty-two  of  the  acts  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and 
eighty-three  so  far  as  they  relate  to  sinking  funds.  A 
majority  of  the  board  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business.  Any  vacancy  in  said  board  from 
any  cause  may  be  filled  for  the  remainder  of  the  unexpired 
term  by  said  town  at  any  legal  town  meeting  called  for 
the  purpose. 

SECTION  2.  So  much  of  the  said  chapter  one  hundred 
and  fifty-two  as  is  inconsistent  herewith  is  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 
Approved  February  2-6,  1909. 


ACTS,  1909.  —  CHAP.  125. 


CHAPTER  125. 

AN   ACT    TO    PROVIDE    FOR    THE    ELECTION    OF    A    BOARD    OF 
LICENSE    COMMISSIONERS    BY    THE    TOWN    OF    PALMER. 

Be  it  enacted,,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     The  town  of  Palmer  at  its  annual  March  License  com- 
meeting  shall  in  every  year  choose  from  the  inhabitants  Palme^elec- 
thereof,  a  license  commission  consisting  of  three  members,  tlon'  te 
to  serve  for  the  term  of  one  year,  or  until  their  successors 
are  elected  and  qualified.     Any  vacancy  in   said  board  Vacancy. 
occurring  during  the  year  shall  be  filled  by  the  selectmen. 

SECTION  2.  ~No  member  of  the  board  shall  be  engaged 
directly  or  indirectly  in  the  manufacture  or  sale  of  in-  etc- 
toxicating  liquors,  or  hold  any  other  town  office.  If  any 
member  of  the  board  shall  engage  directly  or  indirectly  in 
the  manufacture  or  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  his  office 
shall  thereupon  become  vacant.  Each  member  of  said 
board  shall  have  been  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Palmer 
for  at  least  two  years  immediately  preceding  his  election. 
Two  members  of  the  board  shall  be  a  quorum  for  the  Quorum. 
transaction  of  business. 

SECTION  3.  All  licenses  issued  in  the  said  town  for  Powers  and 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  or  for  innholders  or  com- 
mon victuallers,  shall  be  issued  and  signed  only  by  the 
board  of  license  commissioners,  and  shall  be  recorded  in 
their  office;  and  all  the  powers  and  duties  relating  to 
said  licenses,  or  to  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  now  or 
hereafter  vested  in  the  selectmen  of  towns  shall  be  ex- 
ercised and  performed  by  the  said  board. 

SECTION  4.     The  town  may  appropriate  a  reasonable  Compensation, 
sum  of  money  for  the  compensation  of  its  license  commis-  e 
sioners,   and  shall  pay  reasonable   expenses  incurred  by 
the  board  for  blank  books,  printing  and  other  necessary 
expenses,  approved  by  the  board. 


SECTION  5.     This  act  shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  T° 

•  mitted  to 

the  town  01  Palmer  at  the  next  annual  town  meeting  or  voters,  etc. 
at   a   special  meeting  called  for  the  purpose,   and   if   a 
majority  of  the  voters  voting  thereon  shall  vote  in  the 
affirmative  this  act  shall  take  effect. 

SECTION  6.     So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  its  sub-  when  to  take 
mission  to  the  voters  of  the  town  shall  take  effect  upon  its  effect> 
passage.  Approved  February  27,  1909. 


8 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAPS.  138,  149. 


1897,  283, 
amended. 


School  com- 
mittee of 
Newton,  pow 


CHAPTER  138. 

AN  ACT  TO  PEG  VIDE  THAT  THE  MAYOR  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
NEWTON  SHALL  BE  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  SCHOOL  COM- 
MITTEE OF  SAID  CITY. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

19«  SECTION  1.  Section  nineteen  of  chapter  two  hundred 
and  eighty-three  of  the  acts  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred 
and  ninety-seven,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  revise  the  charter 
of  the  city  of  Newton  "  is  hereby  amended  by  striking 
out  the  words  "  president  of  the  board  of  aldermen  ",  in 
the  fifth  line,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  word :  — 
mayor,  —  so  as  to  read  as  follows:  —  Section  19.  The 
management  and  control  of  the  public  schools  shall  be 
era,  duties,  etc.  veste(j  ^n  faQ  scnooi  committee,  which  shall  exercise  the 

powers  and  discharge  the  duties  imposed  by  law  upon 
school  committees.  The  committee  shall  consist  of  the 
mayor,  ex  officio,  and  two  members  from  each  ward.  The 
present  members  shall  continue  to  hold  their  respective 
offices  according  to  the  tenure  thereof,  and  at  the  annual 
city  elections  the  board  of  aldermen  shall  provide  for  the 
election  of  members  to  fill  vacancies  occurring  at  the  end 
of  the  municipal  year,  so  that  the  term  of  office  of  not 
more  than  five  members,  nor  the  term  of  office  of  the  two 
members  from  any  ward,  shall  expire  in  the  same  year. 
Other  vacancies  shall  be  filled  as  provided  by  general  law. 
SECTION  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the  second 
Monday  of  January,  nineteen  hundred  and  ten. 

Approved  March  5,  1909. 


When  to  take 
effect. 


1907,  560, 
§  177, 
amended. 


CHAPTER  149. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  THE  TIME  FOR  FILING  CERTIFICATES 
OF  NOMINATION  AND  NOMINATION   PAPERS   IN   TOWNS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

Section  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  of  chapter  five 
hundred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred 
and  seven  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the  word 
"  Saturday",  in  the  second  line  of  the  fourth  paragraph, 
and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  word :  —  Wednesday, 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  264.  9 

-  by  striking  out  the  word  "  Monday  ",  in  the  third  line 
of  said  paragraph,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  words : 

—  second  Thursday,  —  by  striking  out  the  word  "  Satur- 
day ",  in  the  fourth  line  of  said  paragraph,  and  inserting 
in  place  thereof  the  words :  —  Wednesday  or  Thursday, 

-  by  striking  out  the  words  beginning  with  "  preceding  ", 
in  the  sixth  line  of  said  paragraph,  and  ending  with  the 
words  "  before  the  ",  in  the  eighth  line  of  said  paragraph, 
by  striking  out  the  word  "  ninth  ",  in  the  eleventh  line  of 
said  paragraph,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  word: 

-  twelfth,  —  and  by  striking  out  the  word  "  seventh  ",  in 
the  eleventh  line  of  said  paragraph,  and  inserting  in  place 
thereof  the  word  :  —  eleventh,  —  so  that  said  paragraph 

will  read  as  follows:  —  In  towns,  certificates  of  nomina-  Last  days  for 
tion  for  town  offices  shall  be  filed  on  or  before  the  second  tions  in  towns. 
Wednesday,  and  nomination  papers,  on  or  before  the  second 
Thursday,  preceding  the  day  of  the  election;  but  if  such 
Wednesday  or  Thursday  falls  on  a  legal  holiday,  said 
certificates  of  nomination  shall  be  filed  on  or  before  the 
succeeding  day;  but  if  a  town  election  is  held  on  a  day 
of  the  week  other  than  Monday,  such  certificates  of  nomi- 
nation and  nomination  papers  shall  be  filed  respectively 
on  or  before  the  twelfth  and  eleventh  days  preceding  the 
day  of.  the  election.  Approved  March  6,  1909. 


CHAPTER  264. 

AN    ACT    RELATIVE    TO    PRIMARIES   AT    SPECIAL   ELECTIONS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

Section  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  of  chapter  five  hun-  1907,  560, 
dred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  amended, 
and  seven  is  hereby  amended-  by  striking  out  the  words 
"  or  any  special  election  ",  in  the  fifth  and  sixth  lines,  and 
inserting  in  place  thereof  the  words :  —  provided,  that  at 
special  elections  all  primaries  shall  be  held  on  the  third 
Thursday  preceding  the  day  of  the  election,  —  so  as  to 
read  as  follows :  —  Section  148.     Primaries  shall  be  held  Primaries, 
on  the  sixth   Tuesday  preceding  state   elections,   on   the  holding. 
third  Tuesday  preceding  city  elections,  except  in  Boston, 
where  they  shall  be  held  on  the  fourth  Thursday  preceding 
the  city  election,  and  on  the  second  Tuesday  preceding  town 


10 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  285. 


Proviso. 


School  com- 
mittee of  Ar- 
lington, elec- 
tion, terms, 
etc. 


Failure  to 
elect  or 
vacancy. 


elections:  provided,  that  at  special  elections  all  primaries 
shall  be  held  on  the  third  Thursday  preceding  the  day  of- 
the  election. 

In  Boston  they  shall  be  held  by  precincts  as  established 
for  elections;  elsewhere,  wholly  or  partly  by  wards,  pre- 
cincts or  towns,  as  the  board  of  aldermen  or  selectmen 
may  from  time  to  time  determine. 

Approved  April  1 ,  1909. 


CHAPTER  285. 

AN    ACT    RELATIVE    TO    THE    SCHOOL    COMMITTEE    OF    THE 
TJOWN  OF  ARLINGTON. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  The  school  committee  of  the  town  of 
Arlington  shall  hereafter  consist  of  five  members,  to  be 
elected  by  such  persons  as  shall  be  qualified  to  vote  for 
school  committee  in  that  town;  but  no  person  shall  be 
eligible  for  election  to  the  committee  who  is  not  an  in- 
habitant of  the  town.  The  school  committee  shall  serve 
without  compensation,  and  their  terms  of  office  shall  begin 
with  the  beginning  of  the  municipal  year  following  their 
election.  At  the  annual  town  meeting  next  following  the 
acceptance  of  this  act,  as  hereinafter  provided,  two  persons 
shall  be  elected  as  aforesaid,  to  hold  office  for  three  years, 
two  for  two  years  and  one  for  one  year;  and  thereafter  at 
every  annual  town  meeting  there  shall  be  elected  for  the 
term  of  three  years  so  many  persons  as  may  be  necessary 
to  fill  the  places  of  the  member  or  members  of  said  com- 
mittee whose  term  or  terms  are  about  to  expire. 

SECTION  2.  If  there  is  a  failure  to  elect  a  school  com- 
mittee in  the  town,  the  selectmen  shall  in  writing  appoint 
such  committee.  If  there  is  a  vacancy  in  the  school  com- 
mittee elected  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
arising  from  death,  resignation  or  otherwise,  the  remain- 
ing member  or  members  of  said  committee  shall  give  notice 
thereof  in  writing  to  the  selectmen,  who,  with  the  remaining 
member  or  members  of  such  committee  shall,  after  one 
week's  notice,  fill  such  vacancy  by  ballot.  A  majority  of 
the  ballots  of  the  officers  entitled  to  vote  shall  be  necessary 
to  such  election.  The  person  or  persons  appointed  or 


ACTS,   1909.— CHAP.   344.  11 

elected  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  until  the  next 
annual  meeting  or  until  others  are  chosen  and  qualified. 

SECTION  3.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  school  com-  Powers  and 
mittee  elected  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this 
act  the  terms  of  office  of  the  members  of  the  present  school 
committee  shall  end,  and  their  powers  and  duties  shall 
cease.  The  school  committee  elected  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  the  lawful  successors  of 
the  present  school  committee,  and  shall  have  the  powers 
and  privileges  and  be  subject  to  the  duties  and  obligations 
set  forth  in  all  general  laws  now  or  hereafter  in  force 
relating  to  school  committees  of  towns. 

SECTION   4.      So   much  of   any  act  as   is   inconsistent  Repeal, 
herewith  is  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  5.    This  act  shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  £°t]jd85j' 
the  town  of  Arlington   at   the   annual   state   election   in  voters.  etc. 
November,  nineteen  hundred  and  nine,  and  the  form  of 
the  question  to  be  placed  upon  the  ballot  shall  be  as  fol- 
lows :  —  Shall  chapter  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nine- 
teen hundred  and  nine,  being  "  An  Act  relative  to  the 
school  committee  of  the  town  of  Arlington  ",  be  accepted  ? 
and  if  a  majority  of  the  voters  voting  thereon  shall  vote 
in  the  affirmative  this  act  shall  take  effect. 

SECTION  6.     So  much  of  this  act  as  authorizes  its  sub-  when  to  take 
mission  to  the  voters  of  the  said  town  shall  take  effect  upon 
its  passage,  but  it  shall  not  take  further  effect  until  ac- 
cepted by  the  voters  of  the  town  as  herein  provided. 

Approved  April  9,  1909. 


CHAPTER  344. 

AN   ACT   RELATIVE    TO   ASSESSMENT    AND   REGISTRATION    OF 

VOTERS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     Section  fifteen  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  J^J;  560> 
sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  seven  is  amended, 
hereby  amended  by  inserting  after  the  word  "  books  ",  in 
the  twenty-ninth  line,  the  words :  —  and,  except  in  Boston, 
give  immediate  notice  thereof  to  the  registrars  of  voters, 
—  so  as  to  read  as  follows:  —  Section  15.     The  assessors,  Assessors  to 
assistant  assessors,  or  one  or  more  of  them,  shall  annually, 


12 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  344. 


liable  to  a 
poll  tax. 


To  make  lists 
of  women 
voters. 


Inmates  of 
Soldiers' 
Home  may  be 
assessed  and 
vote  in 
Chelsea. 
Assessors  to 
correct  errors 
and  supply 
omissions. 


Notice  to 
registrars  of 
voters,  etc. 


1907,  560, 
§  41, 
amended. 


in  May  or  June,  visit  every  building  in  their  respective 
cities  and  towns  and,  after  diligent  inquiry,  shall  make  true 
lists  containing,  as  nearly  as  they  can  ascertain,  the  name, 
age,  occupation  and  residence,  on  the  first  day  of  May  in 
the  current  year,  and  the  residence  on  the  first  day  of  May 
in  the  preceding  year,  of  every  male  person  twenty  years 
of  age  or  upwards,  residing  in  their  respective  cities  and 
towns,  liable  to  be  assessed  for  a  poll  tax;  and,  except  in 
Boston,  shall  inquire  at  the  residences  of  the  women  voters 
whose  names  are  contained  in  the  list  transmitted  to  them 
by  the  registrars  under  the  provisions  of  section  forty-four 
whether  such  women  voters  are  resident  thereat,  and  shall 
thereupon  make  true  lists  of  the  women  voters  found  by 
them. 

Any  inmate  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  in  the  city  of  Chelsea 
shall  have  the  same  right  as  any  other  resident  of  that  city 
to  be  assessed  and  to  vote  therein. 

The  assessors  shall,  upon  the  personal  application  of 
an  assessed  person  for  the  correction  of  any  error  in  their 
original  lists,  and  whenever  informed  of  any  such  error, 
make  due  investigation,  and,  upon  proof  thereof,  correct 
the  same  on  their  books.  When  informed  of  the  omission 
of  the  name  of  a  person  who  is  averred  to  have  lived  in  the 
city  or  town  on  the  first  day  of  May  in  the  current  year, 
and  to  have  been  assessed  there  in  the  preceding  year,  they 
shall  make  due  investigation,  and,  upon  proof  thereof, 
supply  the  omission  on  their  books,  and,  except  in  Boston, 
give  immediate  notice  thereof  to  the  registrars  of  voters. 
They  shall  cause  all  applications,  certificates  and  affidavits 
received  by  them  under  this  section  to  be  preserved  for 
two  years. 

SECTION  2.  Section  forty-one  of  said  chapter  is  hereby 
amended  by  inserting  after  the  word  "  registration  ",  in 
the  seventh  line,  the  words :  —  and,  except  in  Boston, 
they  shall  compare  all  notices  of  omitted  assessments 
transmitted  to  them  by  the  assessors  under  the  provisions 
of  section  fifteen  of  this  chapter,  as  amended  by  section 
one  of  this  act,  with  the  annual  register  of  voters  for  the 
previous  year,  and  if  it  appears  to  their  satisfaction  that 
any  of  said  omitted  assessments  is  that  of  a  person  entitled 
to  vote  in  such  previous  year  they  may  before  the  close 
of  registration  enter  such  name  on  the  current  annual 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  356.  13 

register,  —  so  as  to  read  as  follows:  —  Section  1+1.     The  Not  to  enter 
registrars  shall  not,  after  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  a  ?ste^sSafterreg 
day  on  which  registration  is  to  cease,  register  any  person  trat?on,  Sf-ls" 
as  a  voter  until  after  the  next  election,  but  they  may  enter  cept>  etc- 
or  correct  upon  the  registers  the  names  of  persons  whose 
qualifications  as  voters  have  been  examined  between  the 
preceding  thirtieth  day  of  April  and  the  close  of  registra- 
tion, and,  except  in  Boston,  they  shall  compare  all  notices 
of  omitted  assessments  transmitted  to  them  by  the  assessors 
under  the  provisions  of  section  fifteen  of  this  chapter,  as 
amended   by   section   one   of  this    act,   with    the    annual 
register  of  voters  for  the  previous  year,  and  if  it  appears 
to  their  satisfaction  that  any  of  said  omitted  assessments 
is  that  of  a  person  entitled  to  vote  in  such  previous  year 
they  may  before  the  close  of  registration  enter  such  name 
on  the  current  annual  register.     They  shall,  in  every  case, 
require  the  vote  by  virtue  of  which  such  entry  or  correc- 
tion is  made  to  be  attested  by  their  clerk. 

SECTION  3.     Section  forty-five  of  said  chapter  is  hereby  1907,  560, 
amended  by  inserting  after  the  word  "  section  ",  in  the  amended, 
third  line,  the  words :  —  or  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  section  forty-one  of  this  chapter  as  amended,  — 
so  as  to  read  as  follows :  —  Section  1^5.     Every  person,  Registration, 
male  or  female,  whose  name  has  not  been  entered  in  the  pHcXonneces- 
annual  register  in  accordance  with  the  preceding  section,  SJ 
or  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section  forty-one 
of  this  chapter  as  amended,  must,  in  order  to  be  registered 
as  a  voter,  apply  in  person  for  registration  and  prove  that 
he  is  qualified  to  register. 

SECTION  4.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  May  3,  1909. 


CHAPTER  356. 

AN  ACT  RELATIVE  TO  THE  NOMINATION  OF  CANDIDATES 
FOR  SENATOR  AND  MEMBERS  OF  STATE  AND  DISTRICT 
POLITICAL  COMMITTEES  IN  THE  FIRST  ESSEX  SENATORIAL 
DISTRICT. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  Nominations  by  political  parties  of  can-  Nomination  of 
didates  for  state  senator  from  the  first  Essex  senatorial  senato?firet°r 
district  shall  be  made  in  caucuses  by  direct  plurality  vote.  I 


14 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  440. 


Members  of 
state  and  dis- 
trict com- 
mittees. 

Return  of 
caucuses. 


Canvassing 
board,  how 
constituted, 
etc. 


SECTION  2.  Members  of  state  and  district  political 
committees  from  the  first  Essex  senatorial  district  shall 
be  elected  in  caucuses  by  direct  plurality  vote. 

SECTION  3.  Returns  of  caucuses  held  under  the  fore- 
going sections  shall  be  made  according  to  the  provisions 
of  section  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  of  chapter  five 
hundred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  seven.  The  registrars  of  voters  and  the  clerk 
of  the  city  of  Lynn,  together  with  the  clerks  of  the  towns 
of  Swampscott  and  Nahant,  shall  constitute  a  canvassing 
board  for  said  district,  and  shall  proceed  in  the  manner 
prescribed  in  section  one  hundred  and  five  of  said  chapter 
five  hundred  and  sixty,  for  like  canvassing  boards  in  the 
county  of  Suffolk. 

(The  foregoing  was  laid  before  the  Governor  on  the 
twenty-seventh  day  of  April,  1909,  and  after  jive  days  it 
had  "  the  force  of  a  law  " ,  as  prescribed  by  the  Constitu- 
tion, as  it  was  not  returned  by  him  with  his  objections 
thereto  within  that  time.) 


Day  of  assess- 
ment of  taxes. 


R.L.  12, 13, 14, 
26,  102,  1902, 
374,  1903,  437, 
1904,  442, 

1906,  463,  516, 

1907,  560,  586, 
etc.,  1908, 
480,  550,  etc., 
amended. 


CHAPTER  440. 

AN  ACT  TO  CHANGE  THE  DATE  FOE  THE  ASSESSMENT 
OF  TAXES,  AND  THE  LISTING  AND  REGISTRATION  OF 
VOTERS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  The  first  day  of  April  instead  of  the  first 
day  of  May  shall  hereafter  be  the  date  for  the  assessment 
of  taxes. 

SECTION  2.  Sections  four,  thirteen,  fourteen,  fifteen, 
twenty-three,  twenty-six,  forty-one,  fifty-eight,  ninety- 
three,  ninety-four  and  ninety-six  of  chapter  twelve  of  the 
Revised  Laws ;  sections  three,  fourteen,  thirty-five,  forty- 
nine  and  fifty  of  chapter  thirteen  of  the  Revised  Laws  and 
the  schedule  of  forms  at  the  end  of  said  chapter  thirteen ; 
sections  four,  eight,  nine,  twelve,  sixteen,  thirty-five,  ex- 
cepting the  second  line  thereof,  thirty-seven,  thirty-eight 
and  sixty-one  of  chapter  fourteen  of  the  Revised  Laws; 
section  twenty-six  of  chapter  twenty-six  of  the  Revised 
Laws ;  sections  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  and  one  hundred  and  forty-two  of  chapter 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  440.  15 

one  hundred  and  two  of  the  Revised  Laws;  sections  one, 
two  and  three  of  chapter  three  hundred  and  seventy-four 
of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  two ;  sections 
forty-eight,  forty-nine,  seventy-two  and  eighty-six  of  chap- 
ter four  hundred  and  thirty-seven  of  the  acts  of  the  year 
nineteen  hundred  and  three;  section  one  of  chapter  four 
hundred  and  forty-two  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen 
hundred  and  four;  sections  two  hundred  and  eleven, 
two  hundred  and  twelve  and  two  hundred  and  sixteen  of 
Part  II  of  chapter  four  hundred  and  sixty-three  of  the  acts 
of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  six ;  sections  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  of  Part 
III  of  chapter  four  hundred  and  sixty-three  of  the  acts  of 
the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  six;  sections  fourteen, 
fifteen  and  twenty  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  sixteen  of 
the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  six;  sections 
fourteen,  fifteen,  eighteen,  nineteen,  twenty-five,  twenty- 
six,  forty-three,  forty-four,  forty-six,  sixty,  seventy, 
seventy-one,  seventy-three,  seventy-four,  seventy-six, 
seventy-nine,  eighty,  eighty-three,  eighty-six,  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-nine,  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  ex- 
cepting the  ninth  line  thereof,  one  hundred  and  ninety,  one 
hundred  and  ninety-three  and  three  hundred  of  chapter  five 
hundred  and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  seven;  chapter  five  hundred  and  eighty-six  of 
the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  seven  as 
amended  by  chapter  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  of  the 
acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  eight;  section  one 
of  chapter  four  hundred  and  eighty  of  the  acts  of  the  year 
nineteen  hundred  and  eight;  section  four  of  chapter  five 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred 
and  eight,  and  all  amendments  of  said  sections  and  chap- 
ters are  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the  word  "  May  ", 
wherever  the  same  occurs  in  said  sections,  chapters,  amend- 
ments or  schedule  of  forms,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof 
the  word :  —  April. 

SECTION  3.  Section  forty-one  of  chapter  twelve  of  the  R.  L.  12,  §  4i, 
Revised  Laws,  as  amended  by  chapter  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and 
three,  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the  word  "  July  ", 
in  the  twentieth  line,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the 
word :  —  June,  —  and  by  striking  out  the  word  "  Au- 


16 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  410. 


R.  L.  102, 
§  128, 
amended. 


1907,  560,  §  15, 
amended. 


1907,  560,  §  24, 
amended. 


In  1910  certain 
income  to  be 
estimated  for 
11  mos.,  etc. 


Repeal. 


When  to  take 
effect. 


gust ",   in  the  twenty-first  line,   and   inserting  in   place 
thereof  the  word :  —  July. 

SECTION  4.  Section  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  of 
chapter  one  hundred  and  two  of  the  Revised  Laws  is 
hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the  word  "  thirtieth  ",  in 
the  second  line,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  word: 

—  thirty-first,  —  and  by  striking  out  the  word  "  April  ", 
in  the  third  line,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  word : 

—  March.     Section  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  of  said 
chapter  one  hundred  and  two  is  hereby  amended  by  strik- 
ing out  the  word  "  April  ",  in  the  sixth  line,  and  inserting 
in  place  thereof  the  word :  —  March. 

SECTION  5.  Section  fifteen  of  chapter  five  hundred  and 
sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  seven 
is  amended  by  striking  out  the  word  "  June  ",  in  the  second 
line,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof  the  word :  —  May. 

SECTION  6.  Section  twenty-four  of  chapter  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty  of  the  acts  of  the  year  nineteen  hundred 
and  seven  is  amended  by  striking  out  the  words  "  March 
and  April ",  in  the  tenth  and  nineteenth  lines,  and  in- 
serting in  place  thereof  the  words :  —  February  and 
March.  Section  twenty-five  of  said  chapter  is  amended 
by  striking  out  the  words  "  March  and  April ",  in  the 
twelfth  and  fourteenth  lines,  and  inserting  in  place  thereof 
the  words :  —  February  and  March. 

SECTION  7.  In  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  ten  the 
income  from  trade,  profession  or  employment  and  the 
income  from  annuities,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  taxation, 
be  estimated  for  the  eleven  months  preceding  April  first, 
and  the  record  of  residence  of  the  preceding  year  of  per- 
sons liable  for  a  poll  tax  or  to  police  listing  and  of  women 
for  the  purpose  of  registration  shall  be  as  of  May  first  of 
the  preceding  year. 

SECTION  8.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent 
herewith  are  hereby  repealed. 

SECTION  9.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the  first  day 
of  January,  nineteen  hundred  and  ten. 

Approved  May  24,  1909. 


ACTS,  1909.  — CHAP.  492.  17 


CHAPTER  492. 

AN     ACT    RELATIVE     TO     LISTS     OF     POLL     TAX     PAYEES     IN 
TOWNS   NOT   DIVIDED   INTO   VOTING   PRECINCTS. 

Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.    In  towns  not  divided  into  voting  precincts,  Lists  of  poll 
lists  of  poll  tax  payers  prepared  by  the  assessors  may  be  ceita£ytowns. 
arranged   alphabetically   according   to  the  names   of   the 
persons  on  the  list,  or  by  streets. 

SECTION  2.     This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

Approved  June  15,  1909. 


257150 


